Chapter Text
Zuko’s eyes shot open, a warm hand tightened on his forearm. “It’s happening,” the Fire Lady whispered. Her breath hitched and she let out a strained sigh. “Get Kanna…” another sharp breath, “and Dr. Zhan while you’re at it.” Zuko kissed Suki’s forehead and bolted out of bed.
“It’s happening!" Zuko shouted as he burst out of the royal suite, “Oh gods, it’s happening!” He stifled a laugh as his sandals slipped on the marble floor. Charging down the crimson lined hallways of the palace towards the infirmary Zuko’s voice echoed, “Dr. Zhan, Kanna! It’s happening!”
“My Lord!” a deep voice cut through Zuko’s haze, he slowed to see one of the palace guard’s deputies chasing after him. “Please, return to Lady Suki! I will fetch the doctor and healer.”
Zuko came to a stop, “thank you Fan,” and gave a slight bow. Without stopping Deputy Fan continued toward the infirmary and Zuko turned back towards his bedroom.
The muggy June air held Zuko, the smell of Jasmine pleasantly wafting through the covered walkways and a slight breeze kept the air pleasant. Above the palace a full moon lit the caldera, silver light casting shadows through the royal gardens and sheer curtains. Zuko hoped the scene would prove auspicious for their child’s entrance into the world.
Grabbing hold of the door frame to stay upright as he slid to a stop, Zuko reentered the royal suite. From the next room a quiet voice was directing tight breaths, “Well done, my lady, keep breathing, just like that.” At Suki’s side, a squat middle-aged woman wiped her brow with a damp rag. “I can hear their footsteps, my lady, Kanna and Dr. Zhan are just down the hallway,” she whispered.
“Thank you, Meng,” Zuko matched the woman’s calm tone and took the cool rag from her hands, “How is she doing?” A fast hand swatted Zuko’s arm, “I’m right here, dear,” Suko said through gritted teeth, “and currently…” her retort was interrupted by a guttural exhale, “currently that baby is coming whether or not the doctor is.”
“Easy my lady,” Meng whispered, “deep breaths. She’s dilated about 3cm the last I checked,” Meng’s tempered eyes met Zuko’s.
“Sorry, my love,” Zuko kissed Suki’s forehead again before reapplying the cool rag. He mouthed another thank you to Meng who returned a knowing nod. Her salt-and-pepper hair thrown back in a loose bun and glasses perched halfway down her nose.
“Here!” a young voice called from the outer room, “I’m here, my lady,” the palace’s water-bending healer burst into the room. A couple years younger than Zuko and Suki, Kanna was among the first class of graduates from Katara’s water-bending medical academy. Upon news of Suki’s pregnancy, Katara insisted that the Fire Lady required the support of a water-healer and had sent her very best for her friend. Over the last 7 months Kanna had proven her worth. The pregnancy hadn’t been easy and Kanna’s skill was critical in helping Suki make it to term. The baby was still coming almost 2 weeks early, but thanks to Kanna’s efforts Suki had made it through two false alarms.
In a flurry, Kanna pulled water from her double breasted skins and lowered her softly glowing hands to Suki’s belly. “Oh boy, this baby isn’t waiting any longer,” Kanna said, “Meng, what is her dilation at now?” “Over 4 cm now,” was the reply. “Dr. Zhan, we need you!” Kanna’s voice carried out into the hall.
“I’m coming,” returned an older voice. Catching his breath from the run, an older gentleman jogged into the room, “I’m coming,” he weezed. Throwing his bag down next to the bed he sat down in front of the Fire Lady. “How frequently are those contractions coming?” “Every 10 seconds or so,” Meng said, “but I haven’t been tracking them.” “That’ll do, it’s time. Meng, please fetch us some hot water and a lot of rags.” Dr. Zhan pulled out a disinfecting salve and sanitized his hands before jumping in.
“I love you,” Zuko whispered, “you are so strong.” Suki looked deep into Zuko’s eyes delivering a silent reply: I know, dear, and while that is sweet right now I am giving birth and couldn’t care less about what you think. Zuko’s face blanched but his heart sang. One of the many reasons he loved this woman so fiercely. Zuko wiped sweat from her face, she was flushed and grimacing, but no complaints left her mouth. She was the strongest person Zuko knew. “Zuko,” Suki’s breath hitched again as another contraction rattled through her, “please open the windows, I need some air.”
Racing clumsily from the bed, Zuko pushed the heavy screens open. Silver light flooded the edges of the room. Zuko grabbed a brass fan off a desk in a corner of the room and returned to Suki’s side, fanning her face at a steady pace. The warm candlelight and the silver moonlight played off the intricate decorations of the corrugated fan, scattering reflections across the bed spread. “That’s a weapon honey,” Suki said through gritted teeth, “not a toy.” “And you’re in battle right now, so I find it fitting,” he said with another kiss to her head. She huffed and endured another contraction.
Down the bed, Kanna and Dr. Zhan were working diligently with Meng at their side. Blue light continued to glow from Suki’s belly as Kanna oversaw the uninterrupted chi flow of both the baby and Suki.
“She’s not expanding much past 6cm.” Dr. Zhan said, “breathe Suki, we're here,” he repeated comfortingly. “Kanna, I need your help,” he swapped places with the water bender.
Kanna moved her hands up between Suki’s thighs bringing the glowing water with her. Suki let out a small whimper of pain, the full force of the contractions hitting her once Kanna removed her hands from the Fire Lady’s abdomen.
“Come on Suki, you can do this,” Kanna said quietly as she refreshed the warm water in her hands with some cool water brought in by Meng.
Minutes dragged by, Kanna softly encouraged Suki as she worked to dilate her enough for delivery. Zuko held Suki’s hand as she breathed through contractions, Dr. Zhan and Meng waited patiently. In the pause of the action Zuko heard the quiet patter of feet outside their bedroom. Creening his head to look past the dark mahogany threshold, Zuko saw his mother seated on a plush bench across the annex from the bedroom. Her hair was pulled up into a tidy topknot and she sat stoically staring into the middle distance. Her face held little emotion, though the lines of experience revealed a slight nervousness. Ursa knew how difficult this pregnancy had been on Suki, Ursa herself having to staunch bleeding only 6 weeks earlier when Suki was pulled back from a premature labor.
The quiet footsteps continued pacing Princess Kiyi stepped into view, wrapped in a maroon robe. Pacing in front of her mother, Kiyi stared at her feet, turned, and walked back out of sight. Back and forth she paced, not willing to encroach on the room, but waiting for any call to assist. Her topknot was less tidy than her mother’s. Exhaustion was worn on her face after a month of rigorous training with the Kyoshi warriors.
After graduating from the Royal Fire Academy for Girls the past winter, Kiyi had come to Suki with a request to study under the order and earn her membership in the group. She was the first non-Kyoshi native since Ty Lee to be given the honor and was driven to prove herself worthy to her sister-in-law and to the Kyoshi sisterhood.
A shout of pain shook Ursa and Kiyi from their minds. Zuko’s eyes shot back to his wife.
“She’s as ready as she’ll be, barely 9cm but the baby’s coming, doctor,” Kanna said, shifting to the edge of the bed to switch places with Zhan.
Suki let out another growl through gritted teeth as her child began its entrance into the world. “On my count, Suki,” Dr. Zhan said, “1, 2, and push! …. Good, 2, and push! … Again, 2, push!” All four began breathing in time with Suki. “I see the head, stay strong, push!” Dr. Zhan kept time as Suki pushed.
Several more “push!”(es) rang out from the doctor before his eyes narrowed. “The shoulders are stuck,” Zhan said to himself, “stay with me Suki, I need you to keep pushing in time.” Suki was straining against the blockage in her birth canal, Zuko could see the pain painted across her face and feel the tightness of her grip. Dr. Zhan had his hands up around the baby, trying to lose its shoulders to complete the delivery.
In an instant Suki’s eyes shot wide and she let out a yelp, different than the rhythmed moans of the past hour. “She’s hemorrhaging," Zhan looked up, “Kanna, I need you back on her stomach, she’s hemorrhaging." Kanna swept forward with water already glowing on her hands and went to work on Suki’s abdomen. “I think she’s ruptured her uterus, doctor,” Kanna said. “We need to get this baby out now,” Zhan returned, “I need you to push, Suki!”
With a deep cry of pain, Suki curled upon herself straining to push the baby out. Zhan had dislodged its shoulders and within the next few contractions, the baby was out. “Meng,” Zhan called and quickly handed the newborn off to her before quickly snipping the cord.
Looking both Suki and Zuko in the eyes, Kanna working on Suki’s abdomen in front of him, the doctor outlined the situation. “You’re losing a lot of blood, we need to deliver this afterbirth before we can address the main issue. This won’t be pleasant.”
Dr. Zhan followed the umbilical cord and worked to massage the placenta free. “Come on doctor,” Kanna said, “She can’t contract until that’s out.” There was so much blood. Zuko hadn’t seen that much blood since the war eight years ago. Suki was shaking. “Kiyi!” Kanna called, “I need some blankets, Suki is going into shock.” There was so much blood. Panic built in Zuko’s chest.
“It’s out!” Zhan exclaimed, removing the placenta and moving out of Kanna’s way. Without a word, Kanna moved in front of Suki, water still glowing, and continued her work.
“Her uterus isn’t contracting,” Kanna said through gritted teeth. Kiyi rushed into the room with an armload of blankets and gasped. Shiny red blood was pooling between Suki’s legs, a silver blue glow reflected off the crimson as the healer’s water bending and the full moon outside mingled together.
“Thank you Princess,” Dr. Zhan said, “help me wrap her upper body.”
“Where’s my baby?” Suki cried through half-lidded eyes, “I want my baby.” Meng stepped forward, “easy my lady,” she said softly, laying the infant on her chest, “she’s a beautiful girl.”
“A girl!?” Suki let out a strained laugh, “Zuko, we have a girl.” Suki wrapped her arms around the child as she was enrobbed in the blankets. She was losing lucidity and Zuko’s panic was bubbling up. “Kanna,” Zuko said, “can you stop the bleeding?” His eyes flashed with fear as he watched the healer working.
“Her uterus isn’t contracting, and without that she’ll keep losing blood.” Kanna’s voice was steady and honest.
“Please, can’t you do something!” Zuko cried. There was so much blood, Zuko wasn’t sure if it was just the light of the moon, but Suki’s complexion looked paler. She looked exhausted. “Please,” his panic turned into fear.
Kanna briefly looked out the window at the full moon at the far end of the horizon. She looked at Zuko with a knowing look: You are sure? I won’t do this without your permission. Zuko nodded through gritted teeth. Kanna looked at the moon again, closed her eyes, and took several deep breaths. “Suki, this is going to hurt,” Kanna said. The Fire Lady's huff was the only response.
Veins bulged up Kanna’s forearms. Suki let out a sudden gasp. Blood vessels bulged across Suki’s abdomen, mirroring the healer’s arms. In an instant the blood stopped. Kanna’s brow furrowed in concentration as she worked her hands through the fissure in Suki’s uterus. “I can hold this, Dr. Zhan, but I need you in here to stitch her up. It’s a big tear.” Kanna removed her hands, fingers contorted, sweat beading along her brow in concentration.
Without a word the doctor stepped up, grabbed a suture and went to work. Within a couple of minutes a simple, “done,” was all that signaled the completion. With a deep breath, Kanna released her hold over Suki’s abdomen. Grabbing more water from a nearby basin, the familiar blue light returned as Kanna went to work with her traditional healing techniques.
She gave Zuko a stern nod before turning her focus back to Suki. He realized he’d been holding his breath.
“I want to name her Izumi,” Suki whispered. Her voice was weak, exhausted, but she was alive.
~~~I~~~I~~~
“Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Girl born to the Fire Lord!”
Azula’s eyes blew wide open, ahead on the corner a paper boy continued his cry. A cool fire coursed through her veins as she beelined it for the kid. Without a word, she had torn the paper out of his hand and flipped a copper coin into its place. Her eyes narrowed as she cut through the crowd for a secluded place to read the news.
Settling down in a quiet alley, Azula popped the paper open and squatted down behind a stack of pallets. She had known this day would come, especially when the news reached Crane Fish Town about her brother’s marriage to that Earth Kingdom peasant. Now Zuko’s pollution of the royal house was enshrined in blood. Azula scoffed. If that girl couldn’t bend... Azula slammed the paper shut.
A manic giggle escaped Azula’s diaphragm. “You actually went and did it,” she said to herself, “You replaced me.” Laughter spilled out of her, a dam of emotion breaking as Azula’s voice descended into a wicked cackle. “The new fire princess is an Earth Kingdom mutt,” Azula weezed, “Oh Zuzu, what have you done!”